Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Advertisement

'Star-Spangled Banner' flag, manuscript united for first time

Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" down nearly 200 years ago and for the first time ever, his original manuscript has been united with the flag that inspired his words at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" down nearly 200 years ago and for the first time ever, his original manuscript has been united with the flag that inspired his words at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:29 PM EDT Jun 11, 2014

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT HAS BEEN UNITED WITH THE FLAG THAT INSPIRED HIS WORDS. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THESE ICONIC AMERICAN SYMBOLS HAVE NEVER SHARED BASE BEFORE. KEYS MANUSCRIPT MADE IT DOWN -- WAY DOWN TO THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN PROBABLY. OUR REPORTER WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY FEW WHO GOT TO WITNESS THE INSTALLATION TODAY. SHE SAID OLD GLORY HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER BECAUSE OF THE NEW SIDEKICK. FROM THE START IT WAS CLEAR THIS WAS NO USUAL DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR THE ME IS -- SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY. IT WAS MOVING DAY FOR KEYS ORIGINAL STAR-SPANGLED BANNER MANUSCRIPT. THIS IS A CULMINATION OF 200 YEARS. THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE TWO INCREDIBLE ICONS ARE TOGETHER. THAT IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY PLAYED MATCHMAKER FOR ONE INCREDIBLY CHOREOGRAPHED BIRTHDAY. INCH AND A HALF. ONE AND A HALF INCHES. SUITS AND A DRESS REHEARSAL ACCORDING TO THE CURATOR, JENNIFER JONES. WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH TWO ICONS OF AMERICAN HISTORY, YOU DO NOT LEAVE THINGS TO CHANCE. THIS IS THE FLAG HE SAW FLYING OVER FORT MCHENRY IN 1814. ENDURED 25 HOURS OF SHOVELING AND NEVER FLINCHED. IT WAS DETERMINATION AND INSPIRATION THAT INSPIRED THESE WORDS THAT WOULD BECOME THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. IT IS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE THE FLAG CAUSE THE DOCUMENT AND THE DOCUMENT CAUSED THE FLAG. OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS IT IS MIRACULOUS THESE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SYMBOLS HAD SURVIVED. THEY BOTH SURVIVED IN BALTIMORE. IT MAKES YOU REALIZE WE ARE A FRAGILE NATION AND OUR FOUNDING, AS WELL AS TODAY. A TATTERED BANNER AND CREASED COMPANION, BASICALLY THE FABRIC OF AMERICA AND SONG AND IT'S HARD. THE MARYLAND HIS STORE COAL SOCIETY SAYS IT IS A SHORT-TERM LOAN TO THE SMITHSONIAN. THE MANUSCRIPT WILL BE HERE FROM FLAG DAY JUNE 14 THROUGH JULY 6.

'Star-Spangled Banner' flag, manuscript united for first time

Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" down nearly 200 years ago and for the first time ever, his original manuscript has been united with the flag that inspired his words at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.